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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. mug — a face
  3. saw — the tool
  4. object — an aim
  5. charge — a price
  6. saw — the tool
  7. net — in sport
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. lie — to recline
  10. charge — in control
  11. key — in music
  12. net — after costs
  13. object — a thing
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. key — the most important part
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. mug — to rob
  19. key — for a lock
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. net — for catching
  24. charge — electricity

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com